This week Neighborhood of the Week heads up to the north side of town, a little ways up from downtown, but not quite all the way to Fountain City, to revisit a small historic community known as Lincoln Park.

Lincoln Park is located just north of the Old North Knoxville and Fourth and Gill neighborhoods and is roughly bounded by Sharps Ridge to the north, Atlantic Avenue to the south, Broadway to the east, and I-275 to the west. It is very often lumped in with the neighboring community of Oakwood, and in fact there is a joint Oakwood Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association. From that association’s web page:

The Lincoln Park community began as a mineral spring resort in 1899 and was probably named for the large Lincoln Park in Chicago. The original Lincoln Park school was located at Atlantic and Kenyon Aves. There were three mineral springs, Epsom, Lithia, and Chalybeate, located where the Lincoln Park Elementary School later stood. An early photograph shows a building with porches on at least three sides with a sign above saying, “Lincoln Park Mineral Springs.” The springs were enclosed so that people had to buy the water and much later were capped. The first school building was erected near the springs by Knox County. The dummy railroad line, which served the neighborhood, became part of the city’s trolley system, following annexation in 1917. Lincoln Park became a part of the city of Knoxville in 1917 along with Oakwood and several other neighborhoods.

The joint Oakwood/Lincoln Park neighborhood association is very active and even has its own clubhouse where neighborhood meetings are held and which residents can rent out for special events.

The homes in Lincoln Park have a lot of character. Many date from at or near the turn of the century and several have architectural characteristics of Victorian and Craftsman style homes. And even though it is a historic neighborhood, Lincoln Park is still quite affordable, especially compared to Old North Knox or Fourth and Gill.

So if you’re looking for a charming, historic, and affordable neighborhood with a strong sense of community that is also convenient to downtown and UT, you might not have to look any further than Lincoln Park.

All Neighborhood of the Week pictures are provided by Robert Stockdale, photographer extraordinaire. You can check out more of Robert’s work at his website.

Note: The stats for this NOTW are only for Lincoln Park. I will be covering Oakwood in a future installment.

Here’s Lincoln Park by the numbers -

Lincoln Park*

Current On-Market Listings – 12
Average Asking Price: $86,100
Median Asking Price: $82,400
Most Expensive: $164,900 (4 BR, 2.5 BA, 2200+ sq ft built in ‘20)
Least Expensive: $45,000 (3 BR, 2 BA, 1600+ sq ft “shell” built in ‘20)
Middle of the Road: $84,900 (2 BR, 1 BA, 1000+ sq ft built in ‘20)

Current Pending Sales - 0
Average Asking Price: NA
Median Asking Price: NA

Closed Sales – 2nd Quarter 2010 – 5
Average Asking Price – $71,100
Average Sales Price – $66,250
Median Sales Price – $65,000
Days on Market – 69

Closed Sales – 2nd Quarter 2009 – 2
Average Asking Price – $73,700
Average Sales Price – $69,500
Median Sales Price – NA
Average Days on Market – 68

*Data taken from KAARMLS on 8/23/10 does not include condos, PUDS, adjacent neighborhoods or multi-family units.

As always, if you want any more information about any of these properties, or if you’d like to check one of them out in person, just give me a shout.

If you would like to receive a full list of properties for sale in this neighborhood, or if you would like to be notified of new listings,send me an email with either “Current Lincoln Park Listings” or “New Lincoln Park Listings” in the subject line and I’ll take care of the rest. Spam? We don’t send no stinkin’ spam.

Feeling left out because your neighborhood hasn’t yet been featured as a Neighborhood of the Week? Don’t keep it to yourself, let me know all about it.

This week Neighborhood of the Week heads north of downtown to revisit a historic and well-hidden neighborhood: North Hills.

Located between Old North Knox and Fountain City, North Hills is bordered by Cecil Avenue to the south, Whittle Springs Road to the west, Washington Pike to the north and Prosser Road to the east.

The neighborhood was developed in the late 1920s, and at that time was one of the largest communities in Knoxville, covering 185 acres. It was also considered one of the most prominent and several famous Knoxvillians, including Cas Walker and Patricia Neal, have called North Hills home. The area features many charming homes with unique architectural styles, including Tudor, Spanish Eclectic, and Colonial Revival.

North Hills is quite walkable and the neighborhood is defined by its main thoroughfare, North Hills Boulevard, which has a large, tree-lined median. Residents can also take a stroll on the .4 mile North Hills Greenway or just laze the day away in North Hills Park, which features picnic tables, a playground and a gazebo.

Gardeners will also feel right at home  in North Hills:  The North Hills Gardening Club, which was formed in 1935, is still alive and kicking, and is responsible for planting many of the numerous trees and flowers found throughout the neighborhood.

North Hills is easily accessible by the 1-40 or 1-640 Broadway exits. and is very convenient to downtown and a brief drive down Broadway will get you to Gay Street, Market Square or the Old City is no time flat. It’s also a short drive to Fountain City and the Knoxville Center (East Town) Mall area. 

So if you’re looking for something in a historic neighborhood that’s a little off the beaten path and reasonably priced, why not take a gander at North Hills.

Here’s North Hills by the numbers -

North Hills*

Current On-Market Listings – 16
Average Asking Price: $149,200
Median Asking Price: $134,900
Average Square Footage: 1549
Most Expensive: $269,900 (3 BR, 1.5 BA, 1900+ sq ft w/ 1 BR guest house and gated drive)
Least Expensive: $77,500 (2 BR, 1 BA, 900+ sq ft built in 1945)
Middle of the Road: $144,900 (3 BR, 2 BA, 1500+ sq ft built in 1955)

Current Pending Sales - 3
Average Asking Price: $139,583
Median Asking Price: $138,950

Closed Sales – 1st Quarter 2010- 0
Average Asking Price – $145,900
Average Sales Price – $141,730
Median Sales Price – NA
Average Square Feet – 1605
Average Days on Market -89

Closed Sales – 1st Quarter 2009- 3
Average Asking Price – $116,900
Average Sales Price – $112,667
Median Sales Price – $128,000
Average Square Feet – 1570
Average Days on Market – 139

*Data taken from KAARMLS on 4/12/10 does not include condos, PUDS, adjacent neighborhoods or multi-family units.

As always, if you want any more information about any of these properties, or if you’d like to check one of them out in person, just give me a shout.

If you would like to receive a full list of properties for sale in this neighborhood, or if you would like to be notified of new listings,send me an email with either “Current North Hills Listings” or “New North Hills Listings” in the subject line and I’ll take care of the rest. No spam allowed.

Know of a neighborhood that is NOTW-worthy? Let me know about it and you might just see it featured here one day soon.

Special thanks to AAKT’s resident photographer, Robert Stockdale, for the great shots of Broadacres. If you would like to learn more about Robert’s work, please visit his website.

© 2010 Robert Stockdale Photography, All Rights Reserved.

This week Neighborhood of the Week heads up north to take a look at a cozy little area that’s more or less tucked right behind Fairmont and Emoriland Boulevards: Fairmont Park.

Located just east of Broadway, Fairmont Park can be hard to distinguish from the Fairmont & Emoriland area proper. I think of it as the back or east end of the Boulevards, going back to Whittle Springs, and bounded roughly by Nickerson to the south

© 2010 Robert Stockdale Photography, All Rights Reserved.

The homes in Fairmont Park area are mostly smaller — and slightly more affordable — than their main boulevard counterparts, but are no less charming. Like the Fairmont and Emoriland area, Fairmont Park was first developed in the 1920s, but the neighborhood has many homes built in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Architectural styles in the neighborhood include Tudor, Spanish Eclectic, and Colonial Revival, as well as many cottage style homes.

© 2010 Robert Stockdale Photography, All Rights Reserved.

Fairmont Park is almost as walkable as Fairmont & Emoriland, with sidewalks present on most blocks of most streets.

Fairmont Park is easily accessible via I-40, I-640, and I-275. It’s also a great place for anyone looking for a quick commute to downtown or the UT campus.

So if you’re looking for an affordable, historic home in an quaint, walkable neighborhood with easy access to interstates, UT and downtown, the Fairmont Park might be right up your alley.

© 2010 Robert Stockdale Photography, All Rights Reserved.

Special thanks to AAKT’s resident photographer, Robert Stockdale,  for the great shots of Fairmont Park. If you would like to learn more about Robert’s work, please visit his website.

Here’s Fairmont Park by the numbers -

Fairmont Park*

Current On-Market Listings – 6
Average Asking Price: $110,330
Median Asking Price: $102,400
Average square footage: 1260

Most Expensive: $172,500 (3 BR, 2 BA, 1700+ sq ft on Fairmont)
Least Expensive: $74,900 (2 BR, 1 BA, 800+ on Miami)
Middle of the Road: $119,900 (3 BR, 2 BA, 1600+ sq ft on Orlando)

Current Pending Sales - 2

Average Asking Price – $84,900
Median Asking Price- NA

Closed Sales – 4th Quarter 2009- 4
Average Asking Price – $64,900
Average Sales Price – $63,420
Median Sales Price – $56,840
Average Sq Ft – 1294
Days on Market – 23

Closed Sales – 4th Quarter 2008- 6
Average Asking Price – $116,250
Average Sales Price – $113,633
Median Sales Price – $122,250
Average Sq Ft – 1640
Days on Market – 78

*Data taken from KAARMLS on 03/01/10 does not include condos, PUDS, adjacent neighborhoods or multi-family units.

As always, if you want any more information about any of these properties, or if you’d like to check one of them out in person, just give me a shout.

If you would like to receive a full list of properties for sale in this neighborhood, or if you would like to be notified of new listings,send me an email with either “Current Fairmont & Emoriland Listings” or “New Fairmont & Emoriland Listings” in the subject line and I’ll take care of the rest. Spam is so 2009.

Know of a great corner of KTown that would also make a great NOTW? Let me know about it and you might just see it here in the coming weeks.

This week we’re revisiting a Neighborhood of Neighborhood of the Weeks Gone By that is just north of downtown and which is steeped in history and rich in architecture:historic Fourth & Gill.

Located just east of Broadway about a mile or so north of downtown, Fourth & Gill is one of Knoxville’s oldest “streetcar suburbs” and is full of many styles of historic homes. From the Fourth & Gill neighborhood website:

Historic Fourth & Gill is an excellent example of the neighborhoods that flourished in Knoxville during the last quarter of the 19th Century…

…The architectural styles present in the Fourth and Gill Historic Overlay District are a good representation of the residential architecture popular in America between the 1880’s and the 1940’s…The Fourth and Gill Historic Overlay District features over 280 residential structures, including single family houses, duplexes, and apartment buildings. The district also contains one school and three churches. The houses are primarily of frame construction, with large porches and complex rooflines. Most of the masonry veneer and load bearing construction occurred in the 20th Century. Although a number of different styles exist in the Fourth and Gill Historic Overlay District, the majority are Queen Anne and Craftsmen styles.

Many of the houses were designed by some of Knoxville’s most notable architects, including George F. Barber and Joseph Bauman…Historically the area was made up of a varied group of people. Professionals and laborers, families and transients, blacks and whites all lived in close proximity to one another. The neighborhood was home to merchants, mayors and a governor, Robert L. Taylor…

…Within the last two decades the neighborhood has begun to reclaim much of its former glory. The district’s name reflects this effort, being derived from the location of a converted house that serves as the neighborhood center. Owners who could foresee the positive social value of cooperative inner city living have attractively restored many distressed properties to comfortable, modern standards. The Historic Fourth and Gill Neighborhood has a proud past and an equally illustrious future.

Fourth & Gill is just a hop, skip and a jump from downtown and the UT campus and is (normally) easily accessible by I-40 or Broadway.

It is a very walkable neighborhood, with sidewalks on just about every street. Veggies and organic foodies, can even walk to theThree Rivers Market, a whole foods co-op, located just across the way on Broadway.

Here’s Fourth & Gill by the numbers-

Historic Fourth & Gill*

Current On-Market Listings – 10
Average Asking Price: $208,530
Median Asking Price: $169,902
Average Square Footage: 2021

Most Expensive: $399,900 (4 BR, 3 BA, 3200+ sq ft on Gratz)
Least Expensive: $127,900 (2 BR, 1 BA, 900+ sq ft on Gill)

Middle of the Road: $189,000 (3 BR, 2 BA, 1900+ sq ft on Luttrell)

Current Pending Sales -3
Average Asking Price: $239,100
Median Asking Price: $239,900

Closed Sales – 4th Quarter 2009 – 2
Average Sales Price – $152,250
Median Sales Price – NA
Average Sq Ft – 2267
Average Days on Market – 245

Closed Sales – 4th Quarter 2008 – 3
Average Sales Price – $182,000
Median Sales Price – $165,000
Average Sq Ft – 2208
Average Days on Market -77

*Data taken from KAARMLS on 02/15/09 does not include adjacent subdivisions, condos, PUDS, or multi-family units.

For even more info on Fourth & Gill, check out my Fourth & Gill neighborhood guide over at Knoxify. It’s chock full of neighborhood goodness!

As always, if you want any more information about any of these properties, or if you’d like to check one of them out in person, just give me a shout.

If you would like to receive a full list of properties for sale in this neighborhood, or if you would like to be notified of new listings,send me an email with either “Current Fourth & Gill Listings” or “New Fourth & Gill Listings” in the subject line and I’ll take care of the rest. Spam ain’t part of the deal.

Know of a corner of Knoxville that would make a great Neighborhood of the Week?  Let me know about it and you might just see it featured here soon.

This week Neighborhood of the Week heads south down Alcoa Highway to revisit one of my personal favorite Knoxville ‘hoods: Lakemoor Hills.

Just a few miles south of campus off of Alcoa Highway, Lakemoor Hills is sometimes  referred to as  “South Sequoyah” due to its location across the river from Sequoyah Hills.

With over 250 homes, many with lake frontage, lake views, or ample acreage, Lakemoor Hills is definitely a nice place to call home. Most of the homes in the neighborhood were built in the 60s and 70s and include ranchers as well as many contemporary multi-levels, including some Barber McMurray designed homes.

There are also some newer construction homes, most notably on lots with river frontage.

So if you’re looking for something convenient to downtown, UT and Bearden that has beautiful scenery and plenty of room to breathe, Lakemoor Hills might just have it.

Here’s Lakemoor Hills by the numbers -

Lakemoor Hills*

Current On-Market Listings – 9
Average Asking Price: $378,244
Median Asking Price: $329,900
Average Square Footage: 3480
Most Expensive Listing: $799,900 (5 BR, 4.5 BA, 5800+ sq ft on 1.8 acres with lake frontage)
Least Expensive Listing: $179,900 (3 BR, 2 BA, 1700 sq ft rancher built in 1950)

Middle of the Road: $329,900 (3 BR, 2.5 BA, 2800+ sq ft contemporary on 1.4 acres)

Current Pending Sales -0
Average Asking Price – NA
Median Asking Price – NA

Closed Sales 2009 – 4
Average List Price – $302,400
Average Sales Price – $296,200
Median Sales Price – $224,950
Average Square Feet – 2753
Average Days on Market – 87

Closed Sales 2008 – 9
Average List Price – $451,944
Average Sales Price – $426,640
Median Sales Price – $380,000
Average Square Feet – 3724
Average Days on Market – 104

*Data taken from KAARMLS on 2/08/10 for Lakemoor Hills proper, and does not include adjacent subdivisions, condos or PUDS.

As always, if you want any more information about any of these properties, or if you’d like to check one of them out in person, just give me a shout.

If you would like to receive a full list of properties for sale in this neighborhood, or if you would like to be notified of new listings,send me an email with either “Current Lakemoor Hills Listings” or “New Lakemoor Hills Listings” in the subject line and I’ll take care of the rest. And no, I won’t spam you.

Do you live in a great Knoxville neighborhood you’d like to share with the world? Tell me about it and you might just see it featured here one day soon.

This week Neighborhood of the Week revisits the western edge of downtown to take another look at a small community with a big history: historic Mechanicsville.

© 2008 Robert Stockdale Photography, All Rights Reserved.

Not only does old Mechanicsville have a colorful history, it also contains perhaps the largest collection of 19th century architecture in Knoxville. From the Knox Heritage website:

The area of present day Mechanicsville which contains the most intact number of historic structures was developed initially as Deaderick’s Addition, J.W. Swann’s Addition, and Moses Fairview Addition. This area contains the largerQueen Anne and Italianate houses built for factory owners and area businessmen, and the smaller cottages of factory workmen…

Mechanicsville derives its name from the large number of factories that developed just outside its boundaries during the late 18th and early 20th centuries. It was settled around 1880. By 1883, Mechanicsville had a population of over 2,000. Most residents of the Mechanicsville worked in the factories and mills that surrounded the neighborhood. Mechanicsville, with its railroad and water source (Second Creek), quickly became the center for industrial activity in Knoxville…

One of the first industries to locate in Mechanicsville was the Knoxville Iron Company, incorporated in 1868 … The Knoxville Iron Company manufactured bar iron, nails, and railroad spikes, as well as ornamental iron. Ornamental iron fences and trim on houses in Mechanicsville are probably products of the Knoxville Iron Company.

Other industries in Mechanicsville included Knoxville Brewing Company, Knox Standard Handle, W.H. Evans & Son (suppliers of Italian marble), The Pottery and Pipe Works, Knoxville Box & Keg Factory, a railroad turntable factory, a broom factory, a soap factory, Cudley Planning Mill and Knoxville Car & Wheel…

In addition, the Mechanicsville area is home to Knoxville College, founded in 1875.

© 2008 Robert Stockdale Photography, All Rights Reserved.

Knox Heritage has even more on the history of the area, as well as an online tour. If you’re more
interested in architecture, Restore Knoxville has a great write up on the neighborhood’s many architectural styles.

© 2008 Robert Stockdale Photography, All Rights Reserved.

The Mechanicsvile area is still very much in transition, and while some of the homes have been restored to their former glory, others are still waiting for urban renewal to come their way.  Since homes are priced according to the level of restoration they’ve undergone,  expect prices to be somewhat disparate.

So, if you’re looking for an emerging area close to downtown and rich in history and architecture, and don’t mind the possibility of some sweat equity, definitely check out historic Mechanicsville.

Note: While there is newer construction near the older part of Mechanicsville, for the purposes of this NOTW I’m only going to be looking at the small area that most people consider to be the “historic” section of Mechanicsville.

Here’s historic Mechanicsville by the numbers -

Mechanicsville*

Current On-Market Listings – 2
Average Asking Price: $89,900
Median Asking Price: NA
Average Square Feet: 1525
Most Expensive: $159,900 (4 BR, 3 BA, 2000+ sq ft, built in 1899)
Least Expensive: $19,900 (2 BR, 1 BA, 1000+ sq ft, built in 1900)

Current Pending Sales - 0
Asking Price: NA
Details: NA

Closed Sales 2009 – 2
Average Asking Price – $144,900
Average Sales Price – $137,659
Average Square Ft- 2330
Average Days on Market – 132

Closed Sales – 2008 – 2
Average Asking Price – $53,200
Average Sales Price – $39,500
Average Square Ft – 1822
Average Days on Market – 40

*Data taken from KAARMLS on 1/25/10 does not include condos, PUDS, adjacent neighborhoods or multi-family units.

As always, if you want any more information about any of these properties, or if you’d like to check one of them out in person, just give me a shout.

If you would like to receive a full list of properties for sale in this neighborhood, or if you would like to be notified of new listings,send me an email with either “Current Mechanicsville Listings” or “New Mechanicsville Listings” in the subject line and I’ll take care of the rest. No spam. For realsies.

I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting places to feature on NOTW. If you have a suggestion, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

This week, Neighborhood of the Week revisits one of West Knoxville’s oldest neighborhoods, which also happens to have a lot of Cool Homes You Can’t Afford in it: Sequoyah Hills.

Located off of Kingston Pike just a few miles west of the University of Tennessee campus, Sequoyah Hills sits in a bend of the Tennessee river and is known around town for its large, tree-lined main boulevard, its gorgeous lake views, its awesome parks, and its very expensive homes.

Sequoyah Hills proper dates back to around 1920 and the Kingston Pike Sequoyah Hills Association has a prettythorough history of the development of the area from that time to present.

Like many neighborhoods that are developed over several decades,  Sequoyah Hills is very architecturally diverse. Styles include everything from English Tudor, English Cottage, and American Colonial to fifites and sixties ranchers, contemporary Frank Lloyed Wright inspired homes, and newer traditional homes.

Much like Holston Hills to the east, construction of larger homes came to a halt at the start of the Great Depression and homes built during and after the war tended to be more modest cottage style homes, so home sizes – and prices -  are also quite diverse in the neighborhood.

Sequoyah Hills is home to the George Berber designed Sequoyah School (now a public K-5 school), the Sequoyah branch of the Knoxville public library, Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church, Blackbird Coffeehouse, Sequoyah Hills Park and the Sequoyah Greenway.

Sequoyah Hills is easily accessible via Kingston Pike and I-40 and is a 5-10 minute drive to downtown or UT campus.

So if you’re looking for a historic home in a fairly self-contained community on the west side of town and have a good bit of money to spend, Sequoyah Hills might be a good place to hang your hat.

Here’s Sequoyah Hills by the numbers -

Sequoyah Hills*

Current On-Market Listings – 44
Average Asking Price: $830,211
Median Asking Price: $661,500
Average Square Footage: 3825
Most Expensive Listing: $3,389,000 (6 BR, 4 BA, 3 half bath, 7700+ sq ft on 1.3 acres)*
Least Expensive Listing: $219,900 (4 BR, 2 BA, 1700+ sq ft Bruce McCarty Home)
Middle of the Road: $1,100,000 (5 BR, 4.5 BA, 4300+ sq ft Italian Renaissance home on Cherokee Blvd)

Interesting side note: Both the most expensive and  the least expensive homes were on the market the last time I covered Sequoyah Hills on NOTK, a little over a year ago. The most expensive is still listed at the same price, while the least expensive has had a $29,000 price reduction.

Current Pending Sales -1
Asking Price – $399,500
Details – 3 BR, 3 BA, 2200+ sq ft built in 1950

Closed Sales – 3rd Quarter 2009 – 12
Average Sales Price – $416,792
Median Sales Price – $336,250
Average Days on Market -84

Closed Sales – 3rd Quarter 2008 – 9
Average Sales Price – $594,722
Median Sales Price – $398,000
Average Days on Market -133

*Data taken from KAARMLS on 11/24/08 for Sequoyah Hills proper, and does not include adjacent subdivisions, condos, PUDS or multi-family units.

As always, if you want any more information about any of these properties, or if you’d like to check one of them out in person, just give me a shout.

If you would like to receive a full list of properties for sale in this neighborhood, or if you would like to be notified of new listings, send me an email with either “Current Sequoyah Hills Listings” or “New Sequoyah Hills Listings” in the subject line and I’ll take care of the rest. Spam is not where it’s at.

Have I missed your neighborhood? Let me know about it and you might just see it featured here in the coming weeks.